The Maldives has condemned the attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in Minab, Iran, that resulted in the death of 168 children, stating that such acts constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law.
Speaking at the urgent debate entitled “Protection of children and educational institutions in international armed conflicts: the aerial attacks on Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in Minab, Iran, as a grave breach of international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” held during the 49th meeting of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr Salma Rasheed, expressed alarm by the continued escalation of conflict in the Middle East, following the military attacks initiated by Israel and the United States against Iran.
The Maldives noted that Israel, already, a serial violator of international law, and a sponsor of state terrorism, is at the core of fuelling this conflict and destruction, reflecting a pattern of continued aggression that has plunged the GCC countries and Jordan, as well as Palestine and Lebanon, into crisis. The Maldives stressed the urgent need to end the longstanding culture of impunity that has enabled such serious breaches of international humanitarian law and international human rights law to persist.
The Maldivian government called upon the international community to intensify efforts to de-escalate the situation, protect civilians, and ensure accountability.
This is the second urgent debate scheduled at the Human Rights Council this week, with the first held on 25 March 2026, to discuss the recent military aggression against Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan on 28 February 2026. The Maldives spoke at both debates, highlighting the government’s positions in line with its commitment to the UN Charter and its obligations under other international treaties to which it is a party.